IN BRIEF

Schneider Electric Establishes Green-Buildings Segment

Schneider Electric, the Rueil Malmaison, France-based provider of integrated energy-management solutions, recently announced the formation of a segment focused on green buildings.

Appointed to lead the segment is Melissa O'Mara. As vice president, Green Buildings Solutions, she is responsible for utilizing Schneider Electric's full portfolio of energy and security solutions to help companies and organizations around the world address environmental and economic challenges.

O'Mara brings nearly 25 years of experience in sustainability, strategy, and innovation. Most recently, she led IBM's Green Sigma Coalition, a partnership between nine companies, including Schneider Electric, that was formed to accelerate enterprise sustainability through projects aimed at significantly reducing energy consumption, water use, waste, and greenhouse-gas emissions.

“The rising price of energy, combined with growing environmental concerns and aggressive regulation in many parts of the world, means that energy efficiency can no longer be optional or an afterthought,” O'Mara said. “Businesses that own or operate any type of building must invest in more-efficient technologies that reduce financial, regulatory, and environmental risks.”

Carrier Corp. Launches Institute for Sustainability

Carrier Corp., the Farmington, Conn.-based provider of high-technology heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration solutions, recently announced the launch of Carrier University Institute for Sustainability through a license agreement with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Through the agreement, Carrier is able to offer an unlimited number of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) workshops and events to employees and customers worldwide throughout the year, translate course materials into several languages, and adapt up to 25 percent of course content to include regionally specific material.

With locations around the world, Carrier University offers comprehensive training in a wide range of areas, including technical skills, sales and marketing skills, business management, customer service, controls, and system design. Carrier University Institute for Sustainability will focus on professional development, technical training, and application tools.

Carrier is the first company to license the USGBC's LEED curriculum to train employees and customers.